Soccer National League: Derry City - 1 Cork City - 1 Only a late penalty spared Derry City from defeat on Saturday night at the Brandywell.

The home side were stunned in the 72nd minute when Kevin Doyle looped a header into the Derry net after a defensive error.

Cork City's Colin T O'Brien, was dismissed when shown a second yellow eight minutes later after he appeared to kick the ball away in a time-wasting exercise.

Derry were relieved in the 90th minute when referee, Paul Tuite, saw George O'Callaghan handle inside the area. Michael Holt drove the spot-kick high into the net giving Cork keeper, Michael Devine, no chance.

Derry boss, Gavin Dykes, felt it was a fair result. "We were clearly the better side in the first half but we failed to create enough chances despite having enjoyed the major share of the possession," he said.

The sending-off infuriated Cork boss, Pat Dolan. "I still haven't got a clue as to why O'Brien was sent off. I can't understand the decision but that decision particularly annoyed me.

"Once we scored, the pressure was on Derry but, to lose a player and then concede a late penalty, we're disappointed."

DERRY: Jennings; Brennan (Holt, 82 mins), Hutton, Delaney, Hargan; McGlynn (O'Grady, 78 mins), Byrne (McCallion, 78 mins), Doherty, Martyn; Farren, Beckett.

CORK: Devine; O'Halloran, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Brien, Sweeney, O'Callaghan, Nwankwo (Byrne, 88 mins); Fenn (Behan, 92 mins), Doyle.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).